Kerf-cutting machine



Feb. 8, 1938. T, Er PRAY 2,397,584

KERF CUTTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 7, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet l AT. E. PRAY KERF CUTTING MACHINE Filed Aug. '7, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 8, 1938.

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Feb. 8, 1938.

T. E. PRAY KERF CUTTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 7, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 llllllllllllll llll l I l I l l I l I l I l l.\

Feb. 8, 1938. T, E, PRAY 2,107,584

KERF CUTTING MACHINE Filed Aug. '7, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ma?. P

Patented Feb. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATNT FFIC REEF-CUTTING MCHN Thomas lE. Pray, Chicago, Ill., assignerl Ito Good man Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill.,

corporation of Illinois Application August "i,

i6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in kerf-cutting machines of the track mounted type adapted to cut out dirt rashes or bands in the mine wall along the mine bottom or at various elevations with respect thereto.

Ihe principal objects of my invention are to provide a mining machine of the class described which may cut above and below dirt rashes or bands of varying thicknesses in the coal seam.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel means for supporting the cutter bars for adjustment with respect to each other and with respect to their supporting frame, together with a novel means for adjusting the cutter bars and holding them in adjusted relation with re-v spect to each other.

My invention may be more clearly understood with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a mining machine constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the forward portion of the machine shown in Figure 1 with parts broken away and shown in longitudinal section in order to more clearly illustrate certain details of my invention;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the forward portion of the device shown in Figure 1 with certain parts broken away and shown in horizontal section;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the forward portion of the device shown in Figure 1, drawn to the same scale as Figure 2, but with certain other parts broken away and shown in longitudinal section;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along lines 5--5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially along lines 6-6 of Figure 2;

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken substantially along lines 'I-1 of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along lines 8 8 of Figure 2;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along lines 9-9 of Figure 2;

Figure l is an enlarged detail fragmentary plan view of a portion of the upper cutter bar; and

Figures 1l and l2 are diagrammatic views of the machine showing the cutter bars in various operative positions.

Referring now in particular to the drawings and the details of the embodiment of my invention illustrated therein, a track mounted truck In is provided which has a turntable II mounted 1936, Serial No. 94H38 at its forward end. Said turntable forms a sup port for a cutting element generally indicated by reference character I2 and including a pair of parallel spaced projecting cutter bars. I3 and I4.v

The truck I0, besides serving as a movable support means for the cutting element, also serves as a power driven means rfor feeding the cutter bars I3 and I4 into the coal by movement along the track- The turntable I I forms a means for positioning said cutter bars in the desired position with respect to the coal vface forcuttihg and also forms a means for feeding Vsaid outtei` bars across' the coal face in a manner well known to those skilled in the art and not herein shown or described since it is no portion of my present invention.

The cutting 'element I2 includes an elevating frame I which is mounted on the turntable II in a pair of parallel spaced 'guides I6, I6 for vertical adjustment with respect thereto. A forwardly projecting cutter frame I'l is pivotally mounted on said elevating frame for movement about a horizontal transverse axis disposed adjacent the forward end thereof. Said cutter frame has a motor I8 secured thereto and extending rearwardly therefrom between the sides of said elevating frame. A suitable adjusting screw, generally indicated by reference character I9, is provided for adjusting the angle of said cutter frame with respect to said elevating frame and the angle of the cutter bars I3 and I4 with respect to the ground. Said adjusting screw and the means for operating it is only herein referred to generally inasmuch as it is of a usual construction and is no portion of my present invention.

The elevating frame I5 is adjustably moved with respect to the turntable II by means of a transverse shaft coaxial with the axis of pivotal movement of said cutter frame. Worms 2|, 2| are secured to opposite ends of said transverse shaft and mesh with and drive worm gears 22, 22 on the forward ends of longitudinally extending shafts 23, 23 (see Figures 2 and 5). Said longitudinally extending shafts have parallel spaced pinions 24, 24 keyed thereto which are adapted to mesh with vertical racks 25, 25 extending upwardly along the guides I6, I6. Said worms and worm gears are of the self-locking type for holding said elevating frame in xed relation with respect to said turntable in the usual manner. v

The transverse shaft 20 is driven from the motor I 8 by means of a jaw clutch member 26 and a helical gear train 21 driven from a longitudinal shaft 28. Sai-d longitudinal shaft is reversely driven through suitable reverse gearing which includes a pair of friction clutches 29, 29 on a longitudinal shaft 3i) and gear trains SI and 32 driven therefrom so that when one of said gear trains is connected with said shaft by its respective friction clutch 29 the longitudinal shaft 28 will be driven in one direction, and when the other gear train is connected with the shaft 30, the longitudinal shaft23 will be driven in an opposite direction. The shaft 23 is in turn driven from the forward end of the motor I8 by means of a suitable spur gear train generally indicated by reference character 33.

The cutter frame I1 is provided with a pair of parallel spaced guiding tongues 34, 34 which extend outwardly therefrom and depend from opposite sides thereof forwardly of the forward end of the truck (see Figure 3). Said guiding tongues are adapted to register for engagement with guide grooves 35, 35 formed in a pair of parallel spaced support Vmembers 35a, 35ab extending rearwardly and outwardly from a support frame 36 for the cutter bar I3. Said support frame is likewise provided with a pair o-f parallel spaced guiding tongues 31, 31 extending laterally from thev outer sides of the'support members 35a, 35EL which are adapted to engage suitable guide grooves 38, 38 formed in support members 38a, 38a extending rearwardly from a supporting frame 39 for the cutter bar It.

The forward end of the supporting frame 36 has an adjusting screw 45 pivotally connected thereto which is threaded within a threaded sleeve 4I, which sleeve in turn is threaded within a threaded hub of a worm gear 42. Said worm gear is journaled in the forward end of the cutter frame I1 in a suitable manner and is meshed with and driven from aworm 43 on the forward end of the longitudinally extending shaft 2B (see Figure 3). Said worm is selectively connected with said shaft by means of a suitable jaw clutch member 44.

With reference ynow in particular to the details of the cutter bar supporting means and several of the novel featuresof my invention, the upper cutter bar I3 is mounted in a frame member 50 having an annular shouldered portion 5I adapted to engage an inwardly extending annular flange 52 of the supporting frame 3B. Said shouldered portion is held in engagement with said ange by means of an annular ring 53 secured to the upper side of -said frame member yin a suitable manner.

The frame member 5i! is provided with parallel spaced inwardly disposed depending walls 5d, 5f! at its forward end. The space between said walls forms a slot which is adapted to be engaged by an upwardly projecting member 55 of the lower cutter bar I4. Said member is formed integral with a cutter bar support member 56 for the lower cutter bar I4 for guiding said last named cutter bar for adjustable movement towards or from the upper cutter bar I3 and for holding said cutter bars so they may be pivotally moved together.

The cutter bar support member 55 is similar to thecutter bar support member 5d and is held in engagement with an annular ilange 51 of the supporting frame 39 by means of an annular ring 59 secured to the upperside of said cutter bar support member and abutting the upper surface of said annular flange.

Suitable means are provided for locking the cutter bars I3 and It from pivotal movement, which means, as herein shown, comprises a locking pin 55 adapted to engage any one of a plurality of apertures formed in the outer Vperiphery of the annular ring 53. Said locking pin is engaged with or disengaged from the desired aperture by means of a hand lever 52 pivoted to the support frame 36 on a pivotal pin 53 and having its free end engaging said locking pin. Thus, said cutter bars may be pivotally moved together about the of the frame members 5B and 56 to permit the disposal of the lower cutter bar along the bottom to one side of the track and thus permit a kerf to be cut by the lower cutter bar along the mine bottom to each side of and in front of the track,

The upper cutter bar I3 is mounted in horizontally disposed slots 643, 51E on opposite sides of the walls 5t, 5ft for adjustable movement with respect to said support member. A suitable adjusting screw 55 is threaded in said cutter bar and abuts the forward end of said support member and forms a means for taking up slack on a cutter chain 56 .movable about said cutter bar.

The lower cutter bar It is mounted in the cutter bar support frame 5G in a similar manner and adjustment is effected by means of an adjusting screw 51 which serves to permit the taking up of slack in a cutter chain 58 movable about said cutter bar.

The cutter chain 55 is trained around and driven from a drive sprocket 69 on the lower end of a sleeve 10, which sleeve is journaled in the frame member 55 by means of suitable ball bearings in a usual manner.

In a like manner, the cutter chain 58 is trained around a drive sprocket 12 on the lower end of a sleeve 13, which sleeve is journaled in the cutter bar support member 5t on suitable ball bearings in a usual manner.

The sleeves 1@ and 13 are internally splined and are adapted to be slidably engaged by a splined shaft 15. Said shaft in turn slidably engages a splined sleeve 16 journaled in the cutter frame I1 and having a bevel gear 11 mounted thereon. Said bevel gear is meshed with and driven from a bevel pinion 18 on the forward end of the longitudinally extending shaft 30 for driving said cutter chains about said cutter bars.

Adjustment of the cutter bar I I with respect to the cutter bar I3 is effected by means of an adjusting screw 19 pivotally mounted in the cutter bar support frame 55 on a pivotal pin 35 disposed forwardly of the guides 38, 38 and rearwardly of the guides formed by the walls 5d, 5t

(see Figures 2 and 7). Said adjusting screw is threaded within a threaded nubof a worm gear 8i which worm gear is journaled on its hub in a bearing and support frame 33 secured to and depending from the frame member 59. A worm 84 meshes with the worm gear 8l and may be rotatably driven by a suitable hand crank in a usual manner (not shown).

With reference now in particular to Figures 11 and l2, illustrating the cutter bars in several operative positions, in Figure ll the lower cutter bar lli is positioned for cutting adjacent the ground, which may be along the bottom of the dirt band, while the upper cutter bar I3 is positioned for cutting along the top of the dirt band so that the two bars may completely cut out the dirt band in a coal seam. It is apparent from the foregoing that during the cutting operation the cutter bars operate as a unit and that they are only vertically adjusted with respect to each other where the thickness of the dirt band varies, which condition usually occurs only in different parts of the mine and not in the same working place.

In Figure 13 the cutting element has been raised to an extreme uppermost position along the guides I6, I6 and the cutter bars I3 and I4 are spaced closer together than in Figure 1 for cutting out a band of a different thickness from the center of the coal seam. It should herein be understood that, if desired, the entire cutting mechanism may be inverted in the guides I6, IS to permit the lower cutter bar I4 to cut a kerf along the roof and permit the upper cutter bar I3 4to cut a kerf spaced downwardly therefrom, or a cutting element of the type having a rotatable head such as is shown in Patent No. 2,027,456, granted to William W. Sloane on January 14, 1936, may be used to permit the cutter bars to be inverted to cut along the roof as well as along the bottom.

It may now be seen that a new and improved mining machine has been provided having a pair of parallel spaced cutter bars adapted to cut out dirt seams in the mine wall of varying thicknesses and that said cutter bars are supported in a simple and elicient manner for adjustment with respect to each other and for adjustment with respect to an overhanging supporting frame and also for adjustment with respect to a supporting truck which effects an arrangement whereby dirt bands may be cut out in varying locations in the mine wall. It may also be seen that a new and improved support and adjusting means has been provided for the cutter bars which is of a simplified construction and permits the cutter bars to cut as a unit.

While Ihave herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it will be understood that the construction thereof and thel arrangement of the various parts may be altered without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting myself to the specific embodiment illustrated, excepting as it vmay be limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a mining machine, a frame, and a pair of cutter bars having cutter chains movable thereabout, mounted on said frame for simultaneous adjustable pivotal movement about coaxial vertical axes disposed adjacent their rearward ends, means for mounting said cutter bars for simultaneous vertical adjustment with respect to said frame and means interposed between said cutter bars for adjustably moving one of said cutter bars with respect to the other.

2. In a mining machine, a frame, and a pair of cutter bars having cutter chains movable thereabout, mounted on saidv frame for adjustment about coaxial vertical axes disposedV adjacent their rearward ends, said cutter chains being driven from a common drive shaft coaxial with their axis of pivotal adjustment, means for mounting said cutter bars for simultaneous vertical adjustment with respect to said frame, means interposed between said cutter bars for adjustably moving one of said cutter bars with respect to the other and a slidable guide connection between said cutter bars to hold said cutter bars for simultaneous pivotal adjustment with respect to said frame.

3. In a track mounted mining machine, a truck, a turntable thereon, a frame mounted on said turntable for Vertical adjustment with respect thereto, and a pair of parallel spaced cutter bars projecting from said frame, said cutter bars having cutter chains movable thereabout means for mounting said cutter bars for aligned vertical adjustment with respect to each other, and a slidable guide connection between said cutter bars to hold said cutter bars for pivotal adjustment together.

4. In a track mounted mining machine, a truck, a turntable thereon, a frame projecting forwardly of said turntable and mounted thereon for vertical adjustment with respect thereto, a pair of parallel spaced depending horizontal cutter bars mounted on said frame for adjustment about a common vertical axis and for adjustment towards and from said frame, and means interposed between said cutter bars for adjustably moving one of said cutter bars with respect to the other.

5.A In a track mounted mining machine, a truck, a turntable thereon, a frame projecting forwardly of said turntable and mounted thereon for vertical adjustment with respect thereto, a pair of parallel spaced depending horizontal cutter bars mounted on said frame for simultaneous adjustable movement about a common vertical axis to permit the lowermost of said cutter bars to cut below the level of the rail along the mine bottom, said cutter bars being mounted for adjustment towards and from said frame, and means interposed between said cutter bars for adjustably moving said lowermost cutter bar towards and from said upper cutter bar.

6. In a mining machine, a frame, a pair of cutter bars having cutter chains movable thereabout mounted on said frame for adjustment about a common vertical axis disposed adjacent their rearward ends, and a supporting and guiding connection between said frame and cutter bars to permit said cutter bars to be adjusted towards and from said frame and towards and from each other comprising a pair of parallel spaced guides depending from said frame, a cutterV bar supporting frame having said rst-mentioned cutter bar pivotally connected thereto and projecting therefrom, and a slidable guiding connection between said guides and frame, a pair of guides on said cutter bar supporting frame, and a second cutter bar support frame for supporting said other cutter bar and having a slidable guiding connection with said guides on said first-mentioned cutter bar supporting frame.

'7. In a mining machine, a frame, a pair of cutter bars having cutter chains movable thereabout mounted on said frame for adjustment about a common vertical axis disposed adjacent their rearward ends, and a supporting and guiding connection between said frame and cutter bars to permit said cutter bars to be adjusted towards and from said frame and towards and from each other comprising a pair of parallel spaced guides depending from said frame, a cutter bar supporting frame having said first-mentioned cutter bar pivotally connected thereto and projecting therefrom, and a slidable guiding connection between said guides and frame, a pair of guides on said cutter bar supporting frame, and a second cutter bar support frame for supporting said other cutter bar and having a slidable guiding connection with said guides on said first-mentioned cutter bar supporting frame, and mechanisms disposed forwardly of and intermediate said guides for moving said cutter bars towards and from said frame and towards and from each other.

8. In a mining machine, a frame, a pair of cutter bars having cutter chains movable thereabout mounted on said frame for adjustment about -a common vertical axis disposed adjacent their rearward ends, and a supporting and guiding connection between said frame and cutter bars rto permit said cutter bars to be adjusted towards and from said frame and towards and from each other comprising a pair of parallel spaced guides depending from said frame, a cutter bar supporting frame having said rst-mentioned cutter bar pivotally connected thereto and projecting therefrom, and a slidable guiding connection between said guides and frame, a pair of guides en said cutter bar supporting frame, and a second cutter bar support frame for supporting said other cutter bar and having a slidable guiding connection with said guides on said iirst-mentioned cutter bar supporting frame, adjusting mechanism disposed forwardly of said guides and interposed between said frame and first-mentioned cutter bar supporting frame for moving both of said cutter bars towards and from said frame, and other adjusting mechanism interposed between said cutter bars for moving said cutter bars towards and from each other.

9. In a track mounted mining machine, a truck, a turntable thereon, a frame mounted on said turntable for vertical adjustment with respect thereto, a pair of parallel spaced guides depending from said frame, a cutter bar supporting frame mounted for movement therealong, and means disposed forwardly of and intermediate said guides for moving said supporting frame towards and from said rst-mentioned frame, said support frame having a chain carrying cutter bar projecting therefrom' and mounted for pivotal movement respect thereto about an axis perpendicular to its cutting plane, a pair of parallei spaced guides extending along said support frame, said guides having a second cutter bar supporting frame guided for movement therealong, and said second-mentioned supportframe having a projecting chain carrying cutter bar mounted thereon for pivotal movement with respect thereto about an axis perpendicular to its cutting plane, and means disposed forwardly of said guides for adjustably moving said cutter bars towards and from' each other.

10. In a track mounted mining machine, a truck, a turntable thereon, a frame mounted on said turntable for vertical adjustment with respect thereto, a pair of parallel spaced guides depending from said frame, a cutter bar supporting frame mounted for movement along said guides, and means disposed forwardly of and intermediate said guides for moving said supporting frame towards and from said first-mentioned fram-e, said support frame having a chain carrying cutter bar projecting therefrom and mounted for pivotal movement with respect thereto about an axis perpendicular to its cutting plane, a pair of parallel spaced guides extending along said support frame, said guides having a cutter bar supporting frame guided for movement therealong, and said second-mentioned support frame having a projecting chain carrying cutter bar mounted thereon for pivotal movement with respect thereto about an axis perpendicular to its cutting plane, means disposed forwardly of said guides for adjustably moving said cutter bars towards and from each other, and slidable guiding means interposed between said cutter bars and disposed forwardly of said guides for holding said cutter bars for pivotal movement as a unit when in various positions of adjustment with respect to each other.

11. In a track mounted mining machine, a truck, a turntable thereon, a frame mounted on said turntable for vertical adjustment with respect thereto, a pair of parallel spaced guides depending from said frame, a cutter bar supporting frame mounted for movement therealong, and means disposed forwardly of and intermediate said guides for moving said supporting frame towards and from said rst-mentioned frame, said support frame having a chain carrying cutter bar projecting therefrom and mounted for pivotal movement with respect thereto about an axis perpendicular to its cutting plane, a second cutter bar support frame disposed beneath said rst mentioned cutter bar support frame and having a projecting chain carrying cutter bar mounted thereon for pivotal movement with respect thereto about an axis perpendicular to its cutting plane, and means interposed between said cutter bars for adjustably moving said second-mentioned cutter bar towards or from said first-mentioned cutter bar.

12. In a track mounted mining machine, a truck, a turntable thereon, a frame mounted on said turntable for vertical adjustment with respect thereto, a pair of parallel spaced guides depending from said frame, a cutter bar support frame mounted for movement therealong, and means disposed forwardly of and intermediate said guides for moving said support frame towards and from said rst-mentioned frame, said support frame having a chain carrying cutter bar projecting therefrom' and mounted for pivotal movement with respect thereto about an axis perpendicular to its cutting plane, another cutter bar support frame disposed beneath said firstmentioned cutter bar support frame and having a projecting chain carrying cutter bar mounted thereon for pivotal movement with respect thereto about an laxis perpendicular to its cutting plane, means interposed between said cutter bars for adjustably motdng said second-mentioned cutter bar towards or from said rst-mentioned cutter bar, and slidable guide means interposed between said cutter bars for guiding said cutter bars for movement towards or from each other and holding said cutter bars from lateral displacement with respect to each other during the cutting operation.

13. In a mining machine, a frame, a pair of cutter bars having cutter chains movable thereabout mounted on said frame for adjustment about a common vertical axis disposed adjacent their rearward ends, and a supporting and guiding connection between said frame and outter bars to permit said cutter bars to be adjusted towards and from said frame and towards and from each other comprising a pair of parallel spaced guides depending from said frame, a cutter bar supporting frame having one of said cutter bars pivotally connected thereto and projecting therefrom, and a slidable guiding connection between said guides and cutter bar support frame, a second cutter bar support frame disposed beneath said rst-mentioned frame forming a support means for said other cutter bar, means disposed forwardly of said guides and interposed between said rst-mentioned frame and support frame for movincr said cutter bars towards or from said frame, and means interposed between said cutter bars for adjustably moving said second-mentioned cutter bar towards and from said first-mentioned cutter bar.

14. In a mining machine, a base, a frame overhanging the forward end of said base, av cutter CTI bar mounted for slidable movement towards and from said frame, a second cutter bar mounted for slidable movement towards and from Ysaid rst cutter bar, means interposed between said frame and first-mentioned cutter bar for moving both of said cutter bars towards and from said frame, and means interposed between said cutter bars for independently moving said second-mentioned cutter bar towards and from said first-mentioned cutter bar.

15. In a mining machine, a base, a frame overhanging the forward end of said base, a pair of guides disposed forwardly of said base and depending from said frame, a cutter bar support frame having guides extending therefrom mounted for movement along said guides, a cutter bar projecting from said frame, another cutter bar support frame having guides extending therefrom guided for movement along the outer side of said guides of said other support frame, a cutter bar projecting from said frame, means interposed between said overhanging frame and rst-mentioned cutter bar for moving both of said cutter bars towards and from said frame, and means interposed between said cutter bars for independently Ymoving said second-mentioned cutter bar towards and from said firstmentioned cutter bar.

16. In a mining machine, a frame, a pair of cutter bars having cutter chains movable thereabout mounted on said frame for adjustment about a common vertical axis disposed adjacent their rearward ends, and a supporting and guiding connection between said frame and cutter bars to permit said cutter bars to be adjusted towards and from said frame and towards and from each other comprising a pair of parallel spaced guides depending from said frame, a cutter bar support frame having one of said cutter bars pivotally connected thereto and projecting therefrom, and a slidable guiding connection between said guides and frame, a second cutter bar support frame disposed beneath said firstmentioned support frame forming a support means for said other cutter bar, means disposed forwardly of said guides and interposed between said first-mentioned frame and support frame for moving said cutter bars towards and from said frame, means interposed between said cutter bars for adjustably moving said second-mentioned cutter bar towards and from said rstmentioned cutter bar, and slidable guide means interposed between said cutter bars for guiding said cutter bars for movement towards or from each other and holding said cutter bars from lateral displacement with respect to each other during the cutting operation.

THOMAS E. PRAY. 

